Abdullah Al Mehdi from Dubai
"He is back," one India fan exclaimed to this reporter during the innings break of the India-Pakistan game on Sunday. There had been lots of criticism about Virat Kohli's form in recent times, but his innings of 60 made it appear he was ready to resume normal services. Yet, there was a difference this time after the Asian powerhouses began the Asia Cup. Is Virat Kohli answering his critics? Having come back from a break of over a month, there was something about Kohli that even surprised Indian journalists covering the event. They are used to the former India captain retorting sharply to questions posed by local media. Something must be off, one suggested. Kohli had recently opened up on mental health struggles, saying that he had a realisation that he was faking intensity. "For the first time in 10 years, I didn't touch my bat for a month", he had said in a recent interview. Allowing himself a break allowed things to come to the surface and his realisation was that the volume of cricket he had endured made it very easy to ignore things within himself. "I have tried to keep up to the demands and the expectations, not really felt my inner being completely, which this phase [away from the game] allowed me to do," he had added. Thus, despite India's defeat to Pakistan, Kohli argued criticism was not something he was paying attention to. His new feeling was to find himself. "I've never paid attention to these things [external criticism], to be honest. I've played for 14 years, that doesn't happen by chance. My job is to work hard on my game, something I'm always keen to do. That's something I'm going to continue to do," he said at the press conference after the Pakistan game. His coach Rahul Dravid reiterated a day before the game that he was not bothered about how many runs Kohli would score. Kohli too felt he needed to find that excitement in his game. The batter had recently been seen pumping fists and arguing with Jonny Bairstow during the tour of England. Whether being away from such confrontation is part of the new approach remains to be seen, but he was not paying heed to the expectations that hound him simply due to the surreal career he has had. "People have their opinions and that's absolutely fine, that doesn't change my happiness as a person. I've taken some time away, put things in perspective. It's given me relaxation… this isn't the be-all-and-end-all of life, I need to enjoy the game. I can't put myself under so much pressure due to expectations that I am unable to express myself. That is not why I started playing this game," he said. Throngs of Pakistani and Indian journalists surrounded Kohli to get a selfie, with the former India captain calm enough to oblige. Is this a new Kohli? You never know. What we do know is that India have an important assignment today against Sri Lanka. The start of the Super Four stage has not quite gone according to plan. With Afghanistan to come after Sri Lanka, India will be hoping to clinch all their remaining games. If Kohli needed a bit of excitement to get himself going, a final berth against archrivals Pakistan is still a possibility and could provide the fuel to light the fire heading into a World Cup.
Abdullah Al Mehdi from Dubai
"He is back," one India fan exclaimed to this reporter during the innings break of the India-Pakistan game on Sunday. There had been lots of criticism about Virat Kohli's form in recent times, but his innings of 60 made it appear he was ready to resume normal services. Yet, there was a difference this time after the Asian powerhouses began the Asia Cup. Is Virat Kohli answering his critics? Having come back from a break of over a month, there was something about Kohli that even surprised Indian journalists covering the event. They are used to the former India captain retorting sharply to questions posed by local media. Something must be off, one suggested. Kohli had recently opened up on mental health struggles, saying that he had a realisation that he was faking intensity. "For the first time in 10 years, I didn't touch my bat for a month", he had said in a recent interview. Allowing himself a break allowed things to come to the surface and his realisation was that the volume of cricket he had endured made it very easy to ignore things within himself. "I have tried to keep up to the demands and the expectations, not really felt my inner being completely, which this phase [away from the game] allowed me to do," he had added. Thus, despite India's defeat to Pakistan, Kohli argued criticism was not something he was paying attention to. His new feeling was to find himself. "I've never paid attention to these things [external criticism], to be honest. I've played for 14 years, that doesn't happen by chance. My job is to work hard on my game, something I'm always keen to do. That's something I'm going to continue to do," he said at the press conference after the Pakistan game. His coach Rahul Dravid reiterated a day before the game that he was not bothered about how many runs Kohli would score. Kohli too felt he needed to find that excitement in his game. The batter had recently been seen pumping fists and arguing with Jonny Bairstow during the tour of England. Whether being away from such confrontation is part of the new approach remains to be seen, but he was not paying heed to the expectations that hound him simply due to the surreal career he has had. "People have their opinions and that's absolutely fine, that doesn't change my happiness as a person. I've taken some time away, put things in perspective. It's given me relaxation… this isn't the be-all-and-end-all of life, I need to enjoy the game. I can't put myself under so much pressure due to expectations that I am unable to express myself. That is not why I started playing this game," he said. Throngs of Pakistani and Indian journalists surrounded Kohli to get a selfie, with the former India captain calm enough to oblige. Is this a new Kohli? You never know. What we do know is that India have an important assignment today against Sri Lanka. The start of the Super Four stage has not quite gone according to plan. With Afghanistan to come after Sri Lanka, India will be hoping to clinch all their remaining games. If Kohli needed a bit of excitement to get himself going, a final berth against archrivals Pakistan is still a possibility and could provide the fuel to light the fire heading into a World Cup.
Abdullah Al Mehdi from Dubai
"He is back," one India fan exclaimed to this reporter during the innings break of the India-Pakistan game on Sunday. There had been lots of criticism about Virat Kohli's form in recent times, but his innings of 60 made it appear he was ready to resume normal services. Yet, there was a difference this time after the Asian powerhouses began the Asia Cup. Is Virat Kohli answering his critics? Having come back from a break of over a month, there was something about Kohli that even surprised Indian journalists covering the event. They are used to the former India captain retorting sharply to questions posed by local media. Something must be off, one suggested. Kohli had recently opened up on mental health struggles, saying that he had a realisation that he was faking intensity. "For the first time in 10 years, I didn't touch my bat for a month", he had said in a recent interview. Allowing himself a break allowed things to come to the surface and his realisation was that the volume of cricket he had endured made it very easy to ignore things within himself. "I have tried to keep up to the demands and the expectations, not really felt my inner being completely, which this phase [away from the game] allowed me to do," he had added. Thus, despite India's defeat to Pakistan, Kohli argued criticism was not something he was paying attention to. His new feeling was to find himself. "I've never paid attention to these things [external criticism], to be honest. I've played for 14 years, that doesn't happen by chance. My job is to work hard on my game, something I'm always keen to do. That's something I'm going to continue to do," he said at the press conference after the Pakistan game. His coach Rahul Dravid reiterated a day before the game that he was not bothered about how many runs Kohli would score. Kohli too felt he needed to find that excitement in his game. The batter had recently been seen pumping fists and arguing with Jonny Bairstow during the tour of England. Whether being away from such confrontation is part of the new approach remains to be seen, but he was not paying heed to the expectations that hound him simply due to the surreal career he has had. "People have their opinions and that's absolutely fine, that doesn't change my happiness as a person. I've taken some time away, put things in perspective. It's given me relaxation… this isn't the be-all-and-end-all of life, I need to enjoy the game. I can't put myself under so much pressure due to expectations that I am unable to express myself. That is not why I started playing this game," he said. Throngs of Pakistani and Indian journalists surrounded Kohli to get a selfie, with the former India captain calm enough to oblige. Is this a new Kohli? You never know. What we do know is that India have an important assignment today against Sri Lanka. The start of the Super Four stage has not quite gone according to plan. With Afghanistan to come after Sri Lanka, India will be hoping to clinch all their remaining games. If Kohli needed a bit of excitement to get himself going, a final berth against archrivals Pakistan is still a possibility and could provide the fuel to light the fire heading into a World Cup.
Nawaz savours all-rounder role
Mohammad Nawaz wants to be a "proper all-rounder" after his batting blitz set up a thrilling win for Pakistan against arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup Super Four. Chasing 182 for victory, Pakistan achieved the target with one ball and five wickets to spare in Dubai after Mohammad Rizwan hit 71 and Nawaz made 42. Nawaz, a left-arm spinner who usually bats at eight but was promoted to number four, joined Rizwan when the score was 63-2 and the two put on a key stand. The 28-year-old Nawaz smashed six fours and two sixes in his 20-ball knock to put the chase on track. Nawaz, who returned bowling figures of 1-25 in India's 181-7, also took three catches and was named man of the match. "To play such an innings in a high-pressure game has definitely given me confidence," Nawaz told reporters after Sunday's victory in the regional T20 tournament which acts as a tune-up for the World Cup in October. "I have got the opportunity to grow as a player and I will try my best to live up to the rising expectations. "I will work hard and try to perform better as a proper all-rounder for the Pakistan team." Nawaz fell in the 16th over and soon Rizwan was out after his second successive half-century. Khushdil Shah (unbeaten 14) and Asif Ali, who made 16 off eight balls, hauled Pakistan over the line in a tense final over as they avenged their loss to India earlier in the tournament. "We wanted to take it as deep as we could because the kind of players we have in Khushdil and Asif, even if we need 10-12 runs per over, they can easily get it," Rizwan said. India's Virat Kohli, who returned to form with 60 off 44 balls to hold the Indian innings together until he got run out in the last over, said Nawaz's knock made the difference. "They took a chance to promote him and extend his batting stay and if the situation gets difficult they have (recognised) batsmen left," Kohli told reporters. "So the way he batted it was a game-changing moment, the way I read the game." The top two teams in the Super Four, which also has Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, will make the Asia Cup final on September 11.
Nawaz savours all-rounder role
Mohammad Nawaz wants to be a "proper all-rounder" after his batting blitz set up a thrilling win for Pakistan against arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup Super Four. Chasing 182 for victory, Pakistan achieved the target with one ball and five wickets to spare in Dubai after Mohammad Rizwan hit 71 and Nawaz made 42. Nawaz, a left-arm spinner who usually bats at eight but was promoted to number four, joined Rizwan when the score was 63-2 and the two put on a key stand. The 28-year-old Nawaz smashed six fours and two sixes in his 20-ball knock to put the chase on track. Nawaz, who returned bowling figures of 1-25 in India's 181-7, also took three catches and was named man of the match. "To play such an innings in a high-pressure game has definitely given me confidence," Nawaz told reporters after Sunday's victory in the regional T20 tournament which acts as a tune-up for the World Cup in October. "I have got the opportunity to grow as a player and I will try my best to live up to the rising expectations. "I will work hard and try to perform better as a proper all-rounder for the Pakistan team." Nawaz fell in the 16th over and soon Rizwan was out after his second successive half-century. Khushdil Shah (unbeaten 14) and Asif Ali, who made 16 off eight balls, hauled Pakistan over the line in a tense final over as they avenged their loss to India earlier in the tournament. "We wanted to take it as deep as we could because the kind of players we have in Khushdil and Asif, even if we need 10-12 runs per over, they can easily get it," Rizwan said. India's Virat Kohli, who returned to form with 60 off 44 balls to hold the Indian innings together until he got run out in the last over, said Nawaz's knock made the difference. "They took a chance to promote him and extend his batting stay and if the situation gets difficult they have (recognised) batsmen left," Kohli told reporters. "So the way he batted it was a game-changing moment, the way I read the game." The top two teams in the Super Four, which also has Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, will make the Asia Cup final on September 11.
Nawaz savours all-rounder role
Mohammad Nawaz wants to be a "proper all-rounder" after his batting blitz set up a thrilling win for Pakistan against arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup Super Four. Chasing 182 for victory, Pakistan achieved the target with one ball and five wickets to spare in Dubai after Mohammad Rizwan hit 71 and Nawaz made 42. Nawaz, a left-arm spinner who usually bats at eight but was promoted to number four, joined Rizwan when the score was 63-2 and the two put on a key stand. The 28-year-old Nawaz smashed six fours and two sixes in his 20-ball knock to put the chase on track. Nawaz, who returned bowling figures of 1-25 in India's 181-7, also took three catches and was named man of the match. "To play such an innings in a high-pressure game has definitely given me confidence," Nawaz told reporters after Sunday's victory in the regional T20 tournament which acts as a tune-up for the World Cup in October. "I have got the opportunity to grow as a player and I will try my best to live up to the rising expectations. "I will work hard and try to perform better as a proper all-rounder for the Pakistan team." Nawaz fell in the 16th over and soon Rizwan was out after his second successive half-century. Khushdil Shah (unbeaten 14) and Asif Ali, who made 16 off eight balls, hauled Pakistan over the line in a tense final over as they avenged their loss to India earlier in the tournament. "We wanted to take it as deep as we could because the kind of players we have in Khushdil and Asif, even if we need 10-12 runs per over, they can easily get it," Rizwan said. India's Virat Kohli, who returned to form with 60 off 44 balls to hold the Indian innings together until he got run out in the last over, said Nawaz's knock made the difference. "They took a chance to promote him and extend his batting stay and if the situation gets difficult they have (recognised) batsmen left," Kohli told reporters. "So the way he batted it was a game-changing moment, the way I read the game." The top two teams in the Super Four, which also has Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, will make the Asia Cup final on September 11.
Nigeria U-19 Cricket Team Maintain World Cup Qualification Hopes alive
The Nigerian Junior Yellow Greens continued its winning streak at the Africa Qualifiers of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup after beating Kenya in its second match of the competition. To ascertain their quality amidst other nations, they grabbed a 58 runs win over Kenya at the United Cricket Club Ground in Windhoek. Nigeria shocked the spectators at Windhoek in their first game of the Qualifiers by outlasting hosts Namibia. Nigeria U19 will face Uganda’s U19 National Cricket team on Wednesday for their third game. In the other games, Tanzania will face Kenya, while host Namibia battle high-flying Sierra Leone. The group is made of six (6) countries: Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and hosts Namibia. Uganda currently tops the group with the highest Net Run Rate of 1.42 after winning two games. Nigeria who have equally won two games have a Net Run Rate of 1.09 while Namibia and Sierra Leone are second and third placed respectively having recorded only a win. Kenya and Tanzania are yet to win a game. The tournament which is scheduled to hold on January to February 2020 in South Africa Will be the thirteenth edition of the U19 cricket world cup, and the second to be held in South Africa.
Nigeria U-19 Cricket Team Maintain World Cup Qualification Hopes alive
The Nigerian Junior Yellow Greens continued its winning streak at the Africa Qualifiers of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup after beating Kenya in its second match of the competition. To ascertain their quality amidst other nations, they grabbed a 58 runs win over Kenya at the United Cricket Club Ground in Windhoek. Nigeria shocked the spectators at Windhoek in their first game of the Qualifiers by outlasting hosts Namibia. Nigeria U19 will face Uganda’s U19 National Cricket team on Wednesday for their third game. In the other games, Tanzania will face Kenya, while host Namibia battle high-flying Sierra Leone. The group is made of six (6) countries: Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and hosts Namibia. Uganda currently tops the group with the highest Net Run Rate of 1.42 after winning two games. Nigeria who have equally won two games have a Net Run Rate of 1.09 while Namibia and Sierra Leone are second and third placed respectively having recorded only a win. Kenya and Tanzania are yet to win a game. The tournament which is scheduled to hold on January to February 2020 in South Africa Will be the thirteenth edition of the U19 cricket world cup, and the second to be held in South Africa.
Nigeria U-19 Cricket Team Maintain World Cup Qualification Hopes alive
The Nigerian Junior Yellow Greens continued its winning streak at the Africa Qualifiers of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup after beating Kenya in its second match of the competition. To ascertain their quality amidst other nations, they grabbed a 58 runs win over Kenya at the United Cricket Club Ground in Windhoek. Nigeria shocked the spectators at Windhoek in their first game of the Qualifiers by outlasting hosts Namibia. Nigeria U19 will face Uganda’s U19 National Cricket team on Wednesday for their third game. In the other games, Tanzania will face Kenya, while host Namibia battle high-flying Sierra Leone. The group is made of six (6) countries: Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and hosts Namibia. Uganda currently tops the group with the highest Net Run Rate of 1.42 after winning two games. Nigeria who have equally won two games have a Net Run Rate of 1.09 while Namibia and Sierra Leone are second and third placed respectively having recorded only a win. Kenya and Tanzania are yet to win a game. The tournament which is scheduled to hold on January to February 2020 in South Africa Will be the thirteenth edition of the U19 cricket world cup, and the second to be held in South Africa.
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